Buckshot shells for shotguns



M y 1964 s. v. SCHAFER BUCKSHOT SHELLS FOR SHOTGUNS Filed April 4, 1963INVENTOR GERALD l ScHAFER ATTORNEY) BUCKSHOT SHELLS FOR SHOTGUNS GeraldV. Schafer, 658 S. Edge Park Drive, Haddonfield,

N.J., assignor of one-half toJohn R. Kelly, Borough I ofHaddonfield,Camden County, NJ.

' Filed Apr. 4, 1963, set. No. 270,603

8 Claims. Cl. 102-42 This invention relates to buckshot shells forshotguns 'andto means carried by the shells for improving thefunctioning of the buckshot andof the shotguns, loaded with the shells,when fired. The presentapplication is a continuation-in-part ofapplication Serial No. 230,811,

'. filed October 16, 1962 for Buckshot Shells forShotguns.

An important object of the invention is to provide buckshot-shells forshotguns which shells contain means forimproving the buckshot patterns.For example, patterns with an average spread of 15 inches can beexpected at 40' yards, with other spreads in proportion. 1

Another important object of the invention is to provide [buckshot shellsfor shotguns which shells contain the means as above, which alsofunction to increase velocity by aligning the buckshot in such mannerthat the friction between the buckshot and the shellcase and thefriction jbetween' the buckshot and the gunbarrel-are reduced. 1

Still another important object of the invention is .to

V i provide buckshot shells for shotguns which shells contain fthemeans'referred to abovewhich also aids in effective I penetration of thebuckshot because the spherical shot is less destorted during its passagethrough the shotgun barrel than is the case when using conventionalshotgun shells. In addition an important object of the invention is toprovide buckshot shells containing means asabove which,

'forja given velocity, lower the breech pressure in the shotgun duringpropellant combustion.

Still another important object is toprovide shotgu shells as above, theuse of which will cause less recoil I of the shotgun for a givenvelocity.

I am aware of shells containing small granules of f .yarious substancesmixed with or in which relatively fine shot is imbedded, but not in anyregular pattern, as well as shells in which the shot is adhesively heldtogethenor in which projectiles of cylindrical shape are separated sothat, when fired they are said to take spiral paths within 'a gun barreland not fuse together, but these are not the. shells of my invention,since the shells I provide are preferably adapted to contain buckshot ofsubstantially spherical shape and of a relatively large size, such asthe-shot commonly known as No; buck, of about .30

" caliber (although larger caliber shot may be used) and the individualshot separated one from another in a regular pattern transversely andlongitudinally of the shell casing with a layer, as two of the shot, insubstansmooth peripherial surfaces or may have an indented, fluted orserrated peripherial surface, since I have discovered that the provisionof flutes or serrations provide an unexpected and very desirable result.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be r Iapparentduring the course of'the following detailed description, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing, forming a part ofthisspecification, and in which drawing: 7 p

. FIG. v1 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of a shell ofthis invention.

I 3,132,59 Patented Ma y 12, 1964 FIG. 2 is horizontal isectional view-(somewhat enlarged) substantially on the line-22 of FIG. 1.

a shotgun barrel,. with buckshot, patterned bodies and wads in positionas being propelled therethrough.

Inthe drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown atypical embodiment of the invention and wherein similar referencecharacters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,the letter A designates a buckshot shell for shotguns containing a formof the patterned body B: of this present application, and C designates ashotgun. j

The buckshot shell for shotguns,. designated as A, includes a casing 10,having a substantially cylindrical tubular side wall 11 with the outerend portion thereof preferably folded inwardly inorder to provide aclosure The casing may be of 12 as is well known in the art. waxedpaper, cardboard or the like. I

The shell A may also include a conventional rear end cap and aconventional detonating means and, communicating with the detonatingmeans, is a supplyof suitable propellant, as powder, filling a portionof the casing. 10 and conventionallyretained by wadding, such as the.wadding 16 and 17 of FIG. 4 and also all of this construction isdisclosed in my co-pending application referred to above.

'Buckshot 18 for use is preferably that commonly known -as"No. 0 buck.of about .30 caliber. Larger buckshot may be used. The buckshot issubstantially. spherical, and is disposed in regularpatterns within thecasing 10, as may be appreciated from FIGS. 1 and 2. That is, forexample, two of the buckshot 18 are arranged with their centerssubstantially 180 apart within the casing and at the same level orhorizontal plane (considering the shell A I as upstanding upon its endcap) with the two buckshot 1 18 of the next level also substantially 180apart, both being in the same horizontal plane, but in vertical planesabove by the patternedbodies B.

While the patterned bodies B illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 inclusive ofthis present application are substantially similar to one of thepatterned bodies (the patterned body C) of my co-pending applicationreferred to above, except for the flutes, serrations or indentations, itshould be understood that the general shape of the patterned bodies A ofthe present invention is given by way of example and they may have thegeneral shapes of the other patterned bodies, also given by way ofexample, in my co-pending application referred to above, with theadditions of theindentations, flutes or serrations. I

Now as to the patterned body B of the present application, the sameincludes a shell side wall-contacting arcuate face 20 adapted to engagea portion of'the inner face of the side wall 11. From each lateral edge210i the face 20 extends a buckshot-contactingface 22, with thetwo faces22 convergingso as to join one another as at the juncture 23 which maybe an edgeof somewhat less height than the width of the face 20. Definedby the edges 24 of the face'ZO-and the edges 25 ofthe faces besubstantially inch, its width substantially 4 inch,

the edges 25 each,5/ inch, the edge 23 substantially 75 inch. The sizeand depth of the concavities 26 are such as to receive a portion of thebuckshot, substantially as may be seen in FIG. 1.

I have discovered that the provision of indentations, particularlyflutes or serrations, extending substantially transversely of thearcuate face 20 with their mouths opening to that face, act asanti-friction means during passage of the patterned bodies B through theshotgun barrel.

Preferably the indentations, flutes or serrations (which will bereferred to simply as indentations 28, hereinafter) extend from one edge24 to the opposite edge 24 of the face 20 as may be seen in FIG. 3, thusreducing the area of the face 20 materially. For example, there may beof a shotgun barrel through which they pass when the shell is firedtherein.

The patterned body B may be made of any suitable material which has somedegree of resiliency for cushioning the buckshot, is readily moulded orstamped to shape, is inexpensive and not apt to disintegrate upon firingof the shell in which it is encased. Such materials may be shell waddingfelt, compacted and held together with any suitable adhesive such asglue. They may also be constructed of stout cardboard, resins suchaspolyethylene, or nylon.

After the wadding is in place within the open-ended shell casing 10, twoof the patterned bodies are placed, with their junctures 23 facing andtheir faces 20 in contact with the inner face of the casing side wall11. Two buckshot 18 are then disposed so as to lie between oppositefaces 22 of the two patterned bodies in a somewhat wedged relationtherewith and disposed substantially 180 apart. Two more of thepatterned bodies, with their face junctures 23 facing one another arethen positioned with the concavities enclosing the upper portions of thetwo buckshot, then two more of the buckshot are disposed in the wedgedrelation, and so on until the shell is fully loaded, whereupon theclosure 12 is folded over the outermost two buckshot. It should be bornein mind that there is no need to ascertain which concave face of thepatterned body is uppermost or lowermost since both of these particularfaces are alike. This permits a faster loading of the shell. V

FIG. 4 illustrates how the patterned bodies and buckshot (together withthe wads) pass through the barrel 40 of the shot gun C. It will be seenthat, while the arcuate faces, such as the faces 20 of the patternedbodies B, may have some limited sliding contact with the inner surface41 of the gun barrel, the buckshot are cradled on and disposed betweenthe patterned bodies.. Neither are they scattered during passage throughthe barrel nor impinge on one another and become fused together ordeform one another. Although some sliding contact may occur betweenbuckshot and the gun barrel, especially when going through the choke 42,no undue lateral force is extended. Obviously, the buckshot remains inits initially'disposed place during the life of the unfired shell, sincethe patterned bodies, unlike fine or coarse materials in which shot isimbedded, do not move about while in the shells. The buckshot andpatterned bodies, being in a compact mass as they travel through thegunbarrel do not permit the buckshot to spin during such travel.Spinning tends to cause'shot to yaw or its path to assume a curve.

What has been said about the spacing of the buckshot 18 from each otherwhile in the shotgun barrel is characteristic of the buckshot within thecasing 10 and spaced from each other in a positively spaced-apartpattern.

While there is illustrated two buckshot per layer, this number may beincreased. The inside diameter of a 12- gauge barrel, for instance, atthe end of the choke portion, is approximately .720 inch. If twobuckshot per layer are used each buckshot would be approximately .360inch. If three buckshot per layer are used the three buckshot would beof such a diameter that they would fit snugly in a .720 inch circle.

As described previously, with the exception of the first two insertedbuckshot, a patterned body is disposed under each buckshot. The buckshotof each succeeding layer rest on the patterned body of the precedinglayer, the result being that buckshot never rest on buckshotbut alwaysrest on or between patterned bodies. Each buckshot, except the first twoinserted buckshot, is cradled as on a cushion and all are disposedbetween patterned bodies. Each cradled buckshot is lifted as by acushion and in turn lifts the patterned body. ahead, each buckshot isthus held in a parallel course in its flight along the gun barrel andtends to hold this parallel course in flight after leaving the muzzle,giving smaller and more compact patterns than are obtained without theuse of the patterned bodies.

Not only do the indentations 28 reduce friction but they provide idealrecesses for lubricants, such as graphite or heavy greases, which can bevery readily spread thereinto and function as is well known in the art.

' It will be noted, that the width of the wall 20 is greater than thewidth of either face 22, so that the buckshot have a tendency, due tothis, to move slightly toward each other (but not contact each other)whereby they do not tend to forcibly contact and push outwardly the sidewall of the shell as one after another buckshot is inserted in the shellwhile loading since the weight of the large buckshot in the loaded shellis considerable, as is obvious.

Considering the size of the buckshot and the patterned bodies, theshells may be readily and correctly loaded by hand with the buckshot andpatterned bodies.

What is claimed is:

1. Buckshot shell for shotguns, said shell including a casing, buckshotpropellant and a plurality of buckshot within the casing, means withinsaid casing for positively,"

separating each of said buckshot, one from another; wadding between saidpropellant and said means, said means comprising a plurality ofpatterned bodies, one for each buckshot, each of the same shape andhaving aface contacting the wall of said casing and for contacting theinner periphery of a shotgun barrel, said bodies being provided with aplurality of spaced part indentations opening to said face, whereby thearea of said face 1s reduced and there are provided recesses defined bysaid indentations to receive lubricant facing said casing.

' 2. Buckshot shell according to claim 1 characterized in that saidindentations and the portions of said face between the mouths of saidindentations extend with their longitudinal axis substantiallyparalleling the longitudinal axis of said casing.

3. Buckshot shell according to claim 2 characterized in that each ofsaid patterned bodies has two opposite faces for receiving buckshotthereon and the junctures of said opposite faces and said face providelongitudinal edges, and said indentations extend to said edges with theend mouths of said indentations opening at said two opposite faces. V

' 4. Buckshot shell according to claim 2 characterized in that each ofsaid patterned bodies has two opposite faces for receiving buckshotthereon and the junctures of said oposite faces and said face providelongitudinal edges, and said indentations have substantially parallellongitudinal sides and extend to said edges with the end mouths of saidindentations opening at said two opposite faces.

5. As an article of manufacture a patterned body for separatingsubstantially spherical buckshot, one from another in a shotgun shell,said body having an arcuate cas ing wall-contacting face, a pair ofbuckshot contacting faces,. converging together from the ends of saidarcuate ;face, and a buckshot receiving concavity with its mouth definedbyv edges of said arcuateface and a pair of faces,

and said body being provided with a plurality of spacedapartindentations extendinginwardly from said arcuate j casingwall-contacting face.

6. As an article of manufacture a patterned casing wall-contacting face,a pair of buckshot contacting facesgrionverging together from the endsof said arcuate face, and a buckshot receiving concavity with its mouthdefined by edges of said arcuate face and a pairof faces, and said bodybeing provided with a plurality of spacedapart substantially parallelindentations extending inwardly from. said arcuate casingwall-contactingface.

7. As an article of manufacture a patterned body for separatingsubstantially spherical buckshot, one from an- 4, other in a shotgunshell, said body having an arcuate body for i separating substantiallyspherical buckshot, one from an- ;other in a shotgun shell, said bodyhaving an arcuate casing wall-contacting face, a pair of buckshotcontacting" v "faces, converging together from the ends of said arcuateface, and a buckshot receiving concavity with its mouth defined by edgesof said arcuate face and a pair of faces, and said body being providedwith a plurality of spacedapart indentations extending inwardy from saidarcuate casing wall-contacting face to said pair of buckshot con- Itacting faces.- I I v g 8. As an article of manufacture a patterned bodyfor separating substantially spherical buckshot, one from another in ashotgun shell, said body having an arcuate casing wall-contacting face,a pair of buckshot contactapart flutes extending inwardly from saidarcuate casing wall-contacting face to said pair of buckshot contactingfaces. I p

No references cited.

1. BUCKSHOT SHELL FOR SHOTGUNS, SAID SHELL INCLUDING A CASING, BUCKSHOTPROPELLANT AND A PLURALITY OF BUCKSHOT WITHIN THE CASING, MEANS WITHINSAID CASING FOR POSITIVELY SEPARATING EACH OF SAID BUCKSHOT, ONE FROMANOTHER; AND WADDING BETWEEN SAID PROPELLANT AND SAID MEANS, SAID MEANSCOMPRISING A PLURALITY OF PATTERNED BODIES, ONE FOR EACH BUCKSHOT, EACHOF THE SAME SHAPE AND HAVING A FACE CONTACTING THE WALL OF SAID CASINGAND FOR CONTACTING THE INNER PERIPHERY OF A SHOTGUN BARREL, SAID BODIESBEING PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF SPACED PART INDENTATIONS OPENING TOSAID FACE, WHEREBY THE AREA OF SAID FACE IS REDUCED AND THERE AREPROVIDED RECESSES DEFINED BY SAID INDENTATIONS TO RECEIVE LUBRICANTFACING SAID CASING.